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Featuring Elixir

Spa Report: Elixir Mind Body Massage

This spa is for: Daytime downtowners who can sneak in a midday indulgence; women seeking some girl time in LoDo

First impressions: Cozy and inviting on a chilly spring day, Elixir’s small relaxation room has a comfy couch and an abundance of hot tea varieties, which welcoming staff prepare right after draping you with a hot, cinnamon-and-clove-filled neck towel. Amenities: Elixir is a cool and stylish — think standard LoDo — massage house rather than a spa. There is no steam room or Jacuzzi, just a set of lovely treatment rooms (including one where the steam comes to you as you’re massaged) and a relaxation lounge.

The treatment was: One of the best prenatal massages, ever. The therapist asked beforehand about preferences in pressure and music, resulting in a perfect, medium-deep massage with the sounds of birds, rain and the ocean in an otherwise quiet, dimly lit room. A heated bed and lots of fluffy pillows, including one under the knees, enhanced the comfort and relaxation. Heated towels were wrapped around the feet, and the therapist spent extra time working out the tension in the neck, shoulders and lower back — typical pregnancy trouble spots. A soft-touch belly massage, not always included in a prenatal treatment, was an appreciated bonus.

Room for improvement: If you’re craving a prenatal massage where you can lie on your belly, Elixir isn’t it. The bed didn’t have a belly cut-out or a gel-filled pillow that allows pregnant women to lie on their tummies. Instead, the head of the bed is inclined for the face-up portion and the rest of the massage happens while lying on one side or the other.

Make the most of your visit: Arrive a bit early to find parking. Make an afternoon of it by having lunch before or after, or at least a stroll around LoDo and a stop for gelato.

Repeat visit planned? For sure. Elixir has a post-natal massage to help new moms recover from sleep deprivation and muscle tension caused by childbirth. This massage includes hot stones to “bring back the chi” lost during delivery and arnica gel to aid abdomen healing.

Know before you go: Check the website for monthly specials, such as the May Mother’s Day escape — a lava shell massage and aromatherapy. Jennifer Brown